Month: November 2019

What I Learned From the Recent Power Outage – Part 1, by A.K.

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As I related in a previous article, I’ve been a “nomad” for the past couple of years since selling my home and taking off to travel, volunteer etc. This has resulted in my living in a whole lot of places, some in the US and some overseas. I’ve spent time camping in the US and time living in an urban apartment overseas in an area subject to earthquakes/tsunamis, terrorist attacks, and missiles. Add to that just ordinary homes of all kinds, from suburban sorts to urban apartments in the US. Much of this has involved pet-sitting so I might reside …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on the vlogger who produces North Country Off Grid. (See the Idaho section.) Idaho Citizen Alert: Meeting on a Proposed Prison in Kootenai County o o o Reader J.L.P. wrote to mention: “There is a YouTuber in North Idaho who has been having …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“How to succeed: First, labor. Nothing can be had for nothing; whatever a man achieves, he must pay for it; and no favor of fortune can absolve him from duty. Secondly, patience and forbearance, which is simply dependent upon the slow justice of time. Thirdly, and important, faith. Unless a man believes in something far higher than himself, something infinitely purer and grander than he can ever become—unless he has an  instinct of an order beyond his dreams, of laws beyond his comprehension, of beauty and good and justice, beside which his own ideals are dark, he will fail in …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — November 11, 2019

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Today is the birthday of General George S. Patton, Jr. (born 1885, died December 21, 1945). — November 11th is of course Veteran’s Day. If you value your freedom, then thank a veteran. — Today is the birthday of Hugh Everett (born 1930, died July 19, 1982), the American physicist who first proposed the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) of quantum physics, which he termed his “relative state” formulation. — November 11th also marks Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), in 1965. Remember Rhodesia. — Ready Made Resources is running a big Veteran’s Day sale on White Phosphor AN/PVS-14 night vision monoculars. …


Taurus Spectrum .380 ACP, by Pat Cascio

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While the .380 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) round  might have been a good choice for the fictional James Bond in some of his earlier movies, it still isn’t the first choice for me, or most other shooters. In later movies, Bond was shown carrying some 9mm handguns, which was a smart move. However, for my use, anything chambered in .380 ACP isn’t my first choice in a concealed carry handgun. Now, that’s not to say that in the past I didn’t actually did carry some .380 ACP handguns. I can only say I was young and naive. Keep in mind …


Recipe of the Week: K.M’s Sausage-Apple-Walnut Stuffing

Reader K.M. kindly sent us a recipe for a Thanksgiving sausage-apple-walnut stuffing. This can be cooked entirely as a side dish, or stuffed in your turkey, or both.  If cooked inside the turkey, then the sausage and onions must be sautéed, first. Note: If baked as a side dish, then this should be started just 90 to 120 minutes before the expected serving time for your turkey. Ingredients 3/4 lb. mild ground sausage. 1 medium sweet onion, peeled and chopped 2 medium apples, cored and chopped 1 c. celery, chopped. 2 large garlic cloves, minced. (More or less, to taste) …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at how The Fed is diving in to the Repo market feet first. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: Interview: The reasons for gold price to test the $3,000 range; rally isn’t over yet o  o  o Gold Falls 3% In Week To One-Month Low At $1,464/oz As Banks …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — November 10, 2019

November 10th is remembered in the United States as the “birthday” of the U.S. Marine Corps. — Coincidentally, the 10th is also the birthday of the late Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, born in 1919, died December 23, 2013. He didn’t design a lot of different guns, but one of his few designs was the prototype for what turned out to be the world’s most widely produced assault rifles. SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 85 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift …


How Plastic Saved Our Homestead – Part 2, by H.P.

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(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) For covering all of the crop rows, we use a black on white 1 mil UV stabilized poly film. This versatile material must be replaced every year after the grow season ends. Depending on which crop is being planted, we roll it out either white up or black up. The white, best for greens and brassicas, has a cooling effect on the soil by reflecting sunlight. The black warms the soil by absorbing sunlight and is used for the majority of crops. When used in the hoop house, drip tape would be …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at America’s Food Supply Chain. Map of America’s Food Supply Chain Reader D.C.H. suggested this, at Fast Company: The first map of America’s food supply chain is mind-boggling. The article, based …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — November 9, 2019

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November 9th (1938) was “Kristallnacht”. Be forewarned, folks: Once a group in any society has been singled out for ridicule and persecution, then they can be systematically attacked, physically. Someday it may be “Constitutionalists” who are targeted. — I just got word that Palmetto State Armory (one of our affiliate advertisers) is having a Veteran’s Day Weekend sale on their M4-style Complete AR Lowers with MagPul MOE Edition black furniture with six-position buffer tubes, for just $149.  If you can afford to, then I recommend that you buy several. This is a great deal. Just type “7065” in their search …


How Plastic Saved Our Homestead – Part 1, by H.P.

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A Disclaimer: I have zero commercial interest or connection to the plastic industry or any link contained herein. All links and references below are provided for informational and educational purposes only. I strongly encourage readers to use locally owned suppliers and make your purchases face to face for all of the products I recommend. Or better yet- source them via second hand, scrap, or salvage. All photos are originals and taken at my property. — Plastic has been getting a lot of bad press lately. Plastic pollution in our waterways is certainly a problem that deserves our attention. Leaching of …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy …